Evaluation of miR-222 Expression in HBV Infected Patients in Comparison with  HDV and HBV Co-infected Patients

Zahra  Sokhanvar; Ameneh  Elikaei; Zohreh  Sharifi

doi:10.18502/ajmb.v13i4.7210

Zahra Sokhanvar Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Ameneh Elikaei Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Zohreh Sharifi Department of Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v13i4.7210

Keywords: Co-infection with hepatitis B and D, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis D virus, MiR-222

Abstract

Background: Liver disease is more severe in HDV+HBV co-infected patients than HBV infected patients which seems to be related to differences in the expression of genes and other factors such as MicroRNAs (miRNAs). The aim of this study was to investigate miR-222 expression in HBV infected patients in comparison with HDV+HBV co-infected patients.

Methods: First, total RNA was extracted from the serum samples and then, complementary DNA (cDNA) was produced using cDNA synthesis kit. Finally, miR-222 gene expression was measured using U6 as the internal control by quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Results: The level of miR-222 expression in HDV+HBV co-infected samples was significantly up regulated. The fold change of the miR-222 expression between two groups was 3.3 (95% CI; 0.011- 17.63) with p<0.001.

Conclusion: The expression of miR-222 was higher in HBV+HDV co-infected patients than HBV infected patients. Further studies should be conducted to confirm whether miR-222 can be a biomarker for prognosis of severe liver diseases.